November 28, 2013

I cannot even tell you how many facial cleansers I have tried in the past since I have never been able to stick to only one. That would be because I have never found one that I noticed made a huge difference in the appearance of my skin. Having sensitive skin, it is very hard to find skin care products that won't irritate my skin and that won't break me out. I have slowly been looking into switching to all natural skin care products, so you can imagine how excited I was when the Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Balancing Facial Cleanser* came in the mail! For those of you who have never heard of the brand, Sibu Beauty is an all natural supplement and personal care line that uses Sea Buckthorn Berry as one of its main ingredients; a little exotic berry that is native to the Tibetan Himalayas and that contains over 190 bioactive compounds, including the much sought-after omega-7 fatty acids. All of their products are paraben-free, sulfate-free and cruelty-free and contain 100% natural ingredients.

November 26, 2013

Ever since I started wearing makeup, I just gravitated towards liquid foundations and never gave pressed powders much thought. This past summer, I finally decided to give the Laura Mercier Mineral Pressed Powder a try (reviewed here), and I was hooked at first swipe! Unfortunately at the start of fall the color I had bought became too dark for my tan-fading complexion and I was on the hunt for an alternative. I came across a videoby Youtuber iheartmakeup92 on the Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Mineral Airbrushing Pressed Powder and the coverage it provided her was just amazing, so I decided to give it a try.

November 24, 2013

I've been reading a lot of good reviews on the Mario Badescu Skin Care range, and while checking out their website I came across their Consulting page, where they ask you to complete a skin care analysis questionnaire and then recommend you a bunch of products suitable for your skin type that you can purchase right off their website. I didn't end up buying anything, but after a few hours they sent me a follow-up e-mail which had a link at the very bottom to try some free samples! At first I thought "this is too good to be true," but after doing some research I realized that it actually is true and really works! Apparently the brand has been offering these free samples online since 2007! It took me a while to receive them, I would say about 2 months, but I certainly didn't mind waiting considering I didn't have to pay for anything. I was expecting maybe 2-3 samples and was quite surprised when I received 7! I thought I would share this discovery with you, I mean who doesn't like to receive free products right? I believe this offer is international, since I live in Canada and the package was sent to me from the United States. Let me know in the comments below if this offer works for you as well! :)

November 23, 2013

I had been hearing so many rave reviews on the Clinique Bottom Lash Mascara that I just had to give it a try! As the name implies, this mascara is designed to get those hard to coat lower lashes without creating a big mess. After giving it a try, I can see why this mascara is so hyped - it really makes applying mascara on the bottom lashes a breeze!

November 19, 2013

A few weeks ago my cousin who lives on the other side of the country came for a visit and although we only had an afternoon to spend together, we decided we wanted to squeeze in some time for shopping, and since we didn't have enough time to go to the mall, we of course decided to take a short walk to the drugstore! My cousin, my sister and I ended up hitting Pharmaprix a.k.a Shoppers Drug Mart and each bought a few *cough* products...gotta love impromptu girly shopping outings! :)

November 17, 2013

I had heard that the E.L.F. Studio Contouring Blush and Bronzing Powder was a dupe for the NARS Orgasm blush and Laguna bronzer duo, so I made sure to add it to my basket when buying a bunch of products off beautyjoint.com a couple of months back. At first swirl, I could already see how pigmented these powders were, and knew I had hit the blush and bronzer jackpot!

November 15, 2013

I am so grateful for the life I have. I have a loving family, supportive friends, a roof over my head, I have an education, a job, and so much more that I am thankful for. There are many children and youths who aren't as fortunate, and who can only dream of having this life that we sometimes take for granted. With Christmas just around the corner, I knew I wanted to make a difference and bring hope and joy to a child in need this holiday season. After doing a bit of research, I came across Operation Christmas Child, a project run by Samaritan's Purse International Relief. What is great about this organization is that it is run in many countries, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, as well as Hong Kong, among other regions.

November 13, 2013

I have an amazing release in the beauty world to share with you all! MAKE UP FOR EVER has recently come out with the Artisan Brush Collection, featuring 76 new, state-of-the-art professional makeup brushes, the most extensive luxury brush collection to have ever been designed! Creator and Artistic Director Dany Sanz has spent five years designing and perfecting each and everyone of these brushes. They range from everyday brush staples for women on the go, including powder, blush, and eye brushes, to brushes that can be used by makeup artists to create the most elaborate looks.

What makes this collection so unique is the synthetic fiber technology used in the design process. Depending on the brush, you will find either straight or wavy fibers. They each have a specific purpose: the straight fibers allow for a more precise application, with the product being more densely packed onto the skin, while the wavy fibers, being more feathered out, create a lighter finish, which are great for buffing and blending.

The brushes themselves are absolutely stunning. The handle of each brush is made of beech wood which becomes slanted at the tip, and along with a gunmetal barrel, gives this collection a very edgy appeal. The brushes are classified in 4 different categories, according to their use:

November 12, 2013

I am very excited to be part of this grand giveaway along with some other wonderful bloggers! The lovely Betzy from Betzy's Makeup is celebrating her 3rd year blog anniversary, and for this special occasion one very lucky reader will win an amazing prize - up for grabs, a $100 Sephora gift card! To enter, simply complete the entries via the rafflecopter box provided below. The more entries you complete, the higher your chances of winning. Good luck!

November 9, 2013

When I heard that the Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3 in 1 Foundation provided full coverage and was long-lasting on oily skin, I knew I had to put it to the test. Having combination skin prone to acne and scarring, I had really high hopes that this drugstore product would help cover my imperfections... and let me tell you, I am really glad I jumped on the bandwagon and gave this little gem a chance!

November 3, 2013

I used to not be much of a fragrance person and could not be bothered with taking the extra time to spray some perfume or body spray on before heading out the door. Well let me tell you, now I cannot go anywhere without coating my body with some sort of scented spray. Maybe it has something to do with confidence - it's like I can conquer the world knowing that I smell good! :)